Dallas Stars President James Lites, left, talks with Shawn Horcoff, center, and Tyler Seguin after they are introduced as NHL hockey Dallas Stars players at a press conference in Dallas on Tuesday July 8, 2013. AP Photo/Mike Fuentes

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The NHL's Dallas Stars have become the first Texas professional sports franchise to officially oppose a "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people.

Team President James Lites said in a statement Wednesday that the Stars are "strongly opposed to any legislation perceived as discriminatory."

The NFL and NBA have previously joined dozens of powerful businesses in opposing a proposal requiring transgender Texans to use public restrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates.

Texas' Republican-controlled Legislature failed to pass the bill during a legislative session that ended in May. Gov. Greg Abbott convened a special session to revive the issue, but it looks unlikely to pass before that ends next week.

A similar law in North Carolina sparked national uproar and costly boycotts before lawmakers rolled back much of it.